Jamie is so amazingly talented, when I finally got to meet her last CHA it was the coolest- plus, she is just the sweetest girl in the world!

What do you do to get into your creative zone?

I thrive on chaos, I need noise around for me to work. I over think things when it’s too quiet.  My brain starts to hurt and smoke begins to escape my ears.  It must be something to do with having kids.  If I couldn’t deal with chaos I would be in real trouble lol.  But they inspire me so it’s all worth it. Here is my room.  As you can see I am not a neat freak.  And I LOVE paint :)

Do you ever create hidden meanings or messages in your work?

Unfortunately I am not that clever lol.  I do create things though that I don’t post online, that I keep for myself.   

 If your creative work were edible, what would it taste like?

It would definitely be chocolate cake :)  Sweet, rich with substance, and only good in small amounts ;)

What is your favorite creation? 

My favorite creation would have to be this LO of the kiddos.  It was a turning point in my style that made me realize I could return to my fine arts abilities.  Also everything went together perfectly, which doesn’t happen often.  The picture feels so innocent, the colors and Prima fit so well and the finishing touch of a little Pink Floyd wisdom made for the perfect journaling.  

What is your biggest creative success so far and why?

My biggest success so far is being recognized by my fellow artists.  To have my work appreciated by women who work so hard on their own work and talent, means worlds to me. Working along side the talented people I have in the last year is amazing.

Thank you so much Jamie!

Nat

@font-face { font-family: “Arial”; }@font-face { font-family: “Calibri”; }p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal { margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; line-height: 115%; font-size: 11pt; font-family: “Times New Roman”; }a:link, span.MsoHyperlink { color: blue; text-decoration: underline; }a:visited, span.MsoHyperlinkFollowed { color: purple; text-decoration: underline; }p.MsoNoSpacing, li.MsoNoSpacing, div.MsoNoSpacing { margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 11pt; font-family: “Times New Roman”; }div.Section1 { page: Section1; }Vanessa Spencer is one of my editors at Somerset Memories and I had the pleasure to meet her twice at CHA personally. It is always wonderful to write with her :)

Vanessa Spencer is from Rancho Santa Margarita, California. Vanessa is a mixed-media artist and is the Consulting Editor for Somerset Memories and manages The Shoppe at Somerset for Stampington & Company. To learn more about her visit her blog at http://www.artfulanthology.blogspot.com/  or her etsy shop at http://www.etsy.com/shop/ArtfulAnthology.

1.  What do you do to get into your creative zone?

 A number of things motivate me to create. Visiting a new interesting place can be inspiring! For example I took a trip to Salvation Mountain in 2009. The amazing vibrant colors used to paint the mountain were certainly an inspiration.

A little blog hopping, flipping through the pages of art and craft magazines and books, and looking at the artwork and talent of other artists gets my creativity going as well. More recently though I have found that simply heading outdoors with my camera and taking all sorts of photographs is a great way to get inspired. There are a number of ways to kick it into gear and it’s good to change it up!

http://artfulanthology.blogspot.com/2011/03/trip-to-salvation-mountain.html

 2.  Do you ever create hidden meanings or messages in your work? (if you have an example you would like to share- sent photo)

 I have a tendency to use butterfly images in my artwork. When I was 19 I had moved to Melbourne Australia and decided to take a watercolor painting class. One of the first project assignments was to just paint a picture, anything inspiring, no rules.

It was after the project assignment that the teacher came around to each student individually and we discussed what we had painted and why. It didn’t really occur to me until I finished it that I had painted a picture with some personal emotion behind it. The name “Vanessa” is of Greek origin and means “butterfly.”  The picture I had painted was of a butterfly, trapped inside a room (on a window) and I had painted a city outside the window.

I realized through the images of what I had painted that, I had in a way, painted myself trapped inside a big new city. I wish I knew what happened to that painting! I have moved an average of once per year for the past ten years so I’ve misplaced a few things along the way… I’ve always known the origin of my name and like many I just love the simplicity and beauty of a butterfly.

 3.  If your creative work were edible, what would it taste like?

One of my favorite treats is sugar cookies! Especially the pretty ones with colorful frosting and sprinkles. They take me back to my childhood. I think these represent how my artwork would taste: sweet, with a touch of nostalgia.

 4.  What is your favorite creation?

My most recent home décor project I’m actually quite proud of! My little girl recently transitioned from a toddler bed to a big girl bed. The bed I found was functional with drawers underneath it and was the right color to match the other furniture in her room except it had black drawers which were kind of dark looking and didn’t fit.

So I decided to finally use up some scraps of paper that had been sitting in a box in my craft room. I had Izzy help me tear up all the pieces and I simply decoupaged the drawers with all the colorful scrap pieces of paper. I love how it adds so much color to her bedroom, its bright and fun – perfect for a 4 year old!

 5.  What is your biggest creative success so far and why?

Simply being a published artist is a great creative success. I have had my artwork published in over 38 publications by Stampington & Company. But being a cover artist twice for Stampington & Company’s Take Ten publication has been my greatest success.

http://artfulanthology.blogspot.com/2011/02/cover-girl-x-2.html
Thank you so much Vanessa :)

Nat

Heidi is one of the people whose work always make me sit in awe and look at it over and over- I love love love her work! I’m so happy that we have lot’s of email contact the last couple months :)

1. What do you do to get into your creative zone?

This may sound silly… but I like to say that I “blank.” What is “blanking?” (Well, besides a made-up, Heidi phrase?) When I “blank” it means that I turn off any music or noise (oftentimes this includes putting my young son down for a nap!), I clean off my desk, putting any and every other project out of sight, and I start each project fresh. I start with my photo or item that I want to alter, and nothing else. Most importantly, I don’t look at anyone else’s work right before I begin a new project and enter that creative place. I find that starting completely fresh, with this clean, blank, slate – opens my project to all kinds of possibilites – and I am not influenced by anything else visually right at that moment. I want my photo (in a layout) to dictate what emotion I want the layout to portray in the end. I want the altered item to “speak” (I know, silly) to me. In the end I want my artwork to make me FEEL what I felt when I took the picture, or how I feel when I hold the altered item in my hand, and starting the creative process by embracing only what I love about those items in the beginning helps me to do this.

2. Do you ever create hidden meanings or messages in your work?

Absolutely… because ultimately, what I am creating is a keepsake for my children. The story of us, who we are, who they were, and a lot of times these messages or events that I am documenting don’t mean anything to others, or aren’t for sharing! :) I often make pull out tags for behind photos, or little messages folded into the layouts. I also write journaling on the backsides of a lot of my work. These are messages to my children, to my husband, to myself… notes that are private, things that others don’t need to see. On another level, like I said above, I want my work to portray an emotion that I felt or feel when it comes to the subject matter, so while this feeling may be not as apparent, and remains “hidden” to other viewers… it is to me. The way I stitch or apply paint, the chaotic or neatly printed journaling, all of it means something to me. I want to remember this down the road too, so on the backside of my work, I write words, or tags so that I remember. “Joy, adoration, stress, contentment” are just an example of what you might find.

3. If your creative work were edible, what would it taste like?

A drumstick. Yep…. definitely a drumstick. Layers upon layers of yum. Each layer is delicious by itself and can certainly stand alone, but when you put it all together, the end result is absolutely scrumptious!  (Mmm, I think I need to go raid the freezer now…) And the best part of a drumstick? The surprise in the end (chocolate in the bottom) – yep, see right when I think I am finished with a project, I almost always add just one more thing…. and it finishes things off perfectly. :)

4. What is your favorite creation?

I hollowed out a book not too long ago, and altered it as a keepsake for my children. In the inside, I wrote them a letter… things I wanted them to know, things I wanted them to remember about me and who I am, and why. Things that I want for them, words that I hope will encourage them if/when I am no longer here. I poured my heart into the letter and into the book, and I hope one day it means as much to them as it does to me!

5. What is your biggest creative success so far and why?

I’m not sure that I can pinpoint one thing… so I guess I have to answer this with – 2011 is my greatest success, lol. This year has been amazing for me, already, and this creative adventure has me doing things that I never even thought were a possibility! Each little thing that happens means different things to me, for different reasons, so the whole journey has been more that I ever imagined. A few of the best things that have happened?

I wrote an article for Somerset Memories this year, and that was mind-blowing. Never in a million years could I have predicted that.

I begun teaching for several different companies and guest designing for others. Those opportunities have nurtured my soul and creativity in so many ways. Being able to surround myself with other people who share my passion for artwork has been so uplifting and I am grateful for every conversation, every paint stroke, every memory, I have with them!

And I can’t forget another extremely important event..

THIS ONE.
Guest blogging for Nathalie Kalbach, one of my long-standing, inspirational muses, is such an amazing honor. Thank you Nat, for everything.

xx Heidi

Thanks Sweet Heidi :)

Nat

I have been a follower of Aniia’s blog for a long time as I love her work. I was so happy to finally meet her last November at the Paper & Co show.

1. What do you do to get into your creative zone?
Oh geez. I depend on deadlines. I thrive on them. Deadlines, challenges and directions gives me the creativity I need. So if I don’t have a deadline or a “purpose” with my scrapbooking, my creativity feels pretty flat. Sounds sad, huh? Yikes. So whenever I feel restless because I don’t have anything I really oughta do (because – when I have deadlines I’m usually pretty good at getting them off the way so that I won’t have to stress, which in turn makes me stress for a few days then I don’t have anything to do the rest of the days when I actually could have been working on stuff in a non-stressed-way) I start looking for challenges and stuff on the web to join spark my creativity. And ofcourse, a glass of wine never hurt anybody *smirk*
Also? I think my messy desk should be mentioned. If I – once in a BLUE moon – attempt to put things where they’re supposed to belong and like, try to have a clean(ish) desk – I only get frustrated because I CAN NEVER FIND ANYTHING AT ALL! There IS a system in the mess. Sort of.

2. Do you ever create hidden meanings or messages in your work?
You know, I’m a pretty private person really, so when I actually do feel like including deep, personal stuff (which I usually just have to share still – it’s not the same if I can’t share stuff on my blog/otherplaces…I’m weird I know, when I still insist I’m a very private person) I like to do it like that – envelopes, symbols and/or just gesso/paint over text – the point is just to have it written down, gotten it out of my system, not that anybody’s supposed to be able to read it…

3. If your creative work were edible, what would it taste like?

Haha, letsee, I love Ben&Jerry’s Ice Cream (especially the cookie dough one!!), so I’d love it if people found my work as delightful as that ;D

4. What is your favorite creation?

Erm. Just one!? Yikes. It’s like asking me to pick my favorite child! Sooo, since I have two children, it’d only be fair to let me share two favorite creations, no? *wink*

Ania2 – it came together perfectly, it contains happy colors, it uses my fave Hambly stuff, like transparency, kraft stickers, rub-ons, even fabric & one of my fave thing to do w/paper to get extra dimension (simply just fold the edges once or twice & staple it together), FELT..bling….sigh..

And Attitude_web – it contains ME (one of the rare images with me in them *wink* *grin*), my favorite stilettos and is an ode to them (because I’m afraid I’m getting too old for such footwear, too often opting for comfort than style these days – a sure sign I’m getting old! sigh!) And – uhm, colors, killer heels, sewing, lovely splatters, rub-ons, transparencies, tape, scraps – what more can you want??

5. What is your biggest creative success so far and why?
Oh gee, this one is hard – and I have to admit I am tempted to drag in my photography in here. You see, without scrapbooking I would probably not have taken up photography the same way I now do. Without the photography I would not have stood in front of my biggest and scariest task until now, a work position as a journalist, which only happened because the passion for photography led me to intern for the local newspaper as a pressphotographer for a year, which in turn helped me (and them, haha) discover my skills for writing, which in turn led me back on the path of journalism (a dream I had abandoned when I was in college), and now I’ve got a real job as a journalist…even if only for a few months (I’m filling in for someone who’s going on a maternity leave), it’s still a job I wouldn’t have dreamed I’d actually be offered, just like that…. I have not lost sight of my biggest dream, to be able to work as a fulltime pressphotographer, but this is a welcome step on the way…. plus..all the weddings I’ve been lucky to photograph – it’s amazing and a huge responsibility, being allowed to take such a small yet big part of someones wedding – to be the only one besides the bride and her closest one in all the preparations before the big “yes”, to capture their dreams, emotions and promises of the day – [insert delightful sigh] – simply..to have people actually trust you enough to give you a job, whether it’s accepting scrapbooking design teams, wanting you to do their photosessions or a fulltime job. I dare say starting with scrapbooking has given me all that.

Here is the link to my online portfolio by the way – http://www.annejolexander.com

Thanks Aniia !!!

Nat

Today Natasja is my guest blogger. I know Natasja for a while now- we met at several events and had a lot of fun together. She is super talented and I’m thrilled to have her today :)

1. What do you do to get into your creative zone?
If I don’t already have an idea in my mind or if I need to create something for an assignment I mostly start with taking a nice cup of coffee and my Macbook, browsing the web to get inspired. I love to visit home décor websites, print and patterns blogs and sites like Etsy. The colors, patterns and shapes inspire me.When my coffee and sometimes a second, is finished, I go upstairs were I have my scrap room. Since I recently have my space redone and reorganized this it self works very inspiring now. I love how organized it is now!

2. Do you ever create hidden meanings or messages in your work?
I never create a hidden meaning or message in my work on purpose. Must confess journaling isn’t my strongest part but I always try to put things down just as they are. I always try to have my project express the feeling I had with the picture I am using….but nothing secret about that because that only adds to the words on the layout.
For example creating this mini album reminded me of fun times

Creating this layout I was rather said about my little girl who is always afraid to speak to people she doesn’t know that well.

3. If your creative work were edible, what would it taste like?
No need to think this over for one second! Chocolate! No matter in what shape, lol. In bars, cake, cup-cakes, muffins…

4. What is your favorite creation? Please explain why you selected this one.
My favorite creation by far is my wreath…..or actually my two wreaths!
This first one I created in 2009 which just has fall all over it and were I used the same sort of flowers as I used for the weddingbouquet I made for Cosmo Cricket (http://cosmocricket.typepad.com/cosmo_cricket/2009/07/natasjas-wedding-bouquet-class.html)
This second wreath I created last year and is put together with Crica 1934, one of the Cosmo Cricket releases and lots of vintage bits.

5. What is your biggest creative success so far and why?
In November 2009 I visited Israel to teach workshop. I taught 10 workshops in 4 days and it was such a great experience!
This year in June I will be back in Israel to teach again! Can’t wait to see you again ladies . Next to Israel I’ve also been teaching in Austria , Germany and here in the Netherlands. I LOVE teaching workshops, to get scrappers enthusiastic to play with their product and inspire them!

In January 2010 and last January I visited CHA and worked at the Cosmo Cricket booth teaching make & takes…..that was just awesome!! I got to meet so many people and a lot I already “knew” from online.

I am still amazed that scrapbooking brought me all this!! I love visiting all the countries, meet all these great people and share the love of scrapbooking. Who knows, maybe we meet one day :)

Love,
Natasja

Nat

Karen is a dear friend of mine who just recently started a wonderful website called Society of Ultimate Living. She is an amazingly supportive and fun friend and on top very creative herself !

1. What do you do to get into your creative zone?
I use my creative juices to write non-fiction for my website Society of Ultimate Living (SOUL) and I am just starting on a Christmas story that I hope to have completed to shop to agents in the summer.
So when I am ready to harness that creative energy and start writing, I first need to extract my cats from desk.

I swear all my cats (I have six) know when I am sitting at the computer.  That’s my sweet girl Kelle.

Anyway, once I get the cats away from the keyboard, I usually start with a little affirmation.  I usually don’t have huge blocks of time to write, so I’ve learned that I need to break down my projects into little chunks.  So for example, I will sit down take a breathe and say that I am going to write a kick-ass intro to this story.

2. Do you ever create hidden meanings or messages in your work?
My goal when I write about my SoulMates on SOUL is to uncover that hidden message.  Find out why someone is successful.  What did they do to live their dream?  So, no hidden meanings in my work.  And if you don’t know what a SoulMate is, go check out my site!

3. If your creative work were edible, what would it taste like?
Here’s the official SOUL seal.

So if SOUL were edible, I’d say it would taste like grape juice on ice.

4. What is your favorite creation?
My favorite creation?  Wow that is hard.  Since this is Nat’s blog, I’m gonna go with the story I wrote about her on SOUL!  Click here to read it!

5. What is your biggest creative success so far and why?
My biggest creative achievement is the creation of SOUL itself.  It truly came in the form of divine inspiration.  I was given the poem below while on a 3 day lomi lomi retreat (lomi lomi is a Hawaiian based form of massage).

Once I read the poem, a picture came to me as clear as day.  I needed to find people who where living this way.  So I am doing just that and I’m having a blast.

Do you know someone who blurs the line between work and play?  Who do you think should be featured on SOUL?  I would love to know!  Let me know via my SOUL Facebook Page.  And if while you are there you like it, well please “like” it.

Keep feeding Your SOUL

Thank you Karen !!

Nat

So stoked about this :

2011-2012 returning Design Team members

Beth Pingry

Location:

USA, Illinois

Celine Navarro

Location:

France

Birgit Koopsen

Location:

Holland

Nathalie Kalbach

Location:

Germany

Leica Forrest

Location:

Canada

Kristen Cohen

Location:

USA, Illinois

Vicki Chrisman

Location:

USA, Nebraska

Liz Hicks – Design Team Coordinator

Location:

USA, Colorado

And joining our team this year….

Ashley Harris

Location:

USA, Arizona

Courtney Walsh

Location:

Colorado, USA

Jamie Dougherty

Location:

California, USA

Tracie Hudson

Location:

United Kingdom

Candy Rosenberg

Location:

Oregon, USA

Nat